INFLUENCE OF SALT STRESS ON GROWTH AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF CITRUS ROOTSTOCKS

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress in agriculture worldwide which affects plant morpho-physiology and ultimately leads to reduction in yield. To assess the effect of salinity on some physio-biochemical parameters in plants of ten different citrus rootstocks, an experiment was performed under controlled saline conditions. Plants were subjected to four salt treatments i.e. 0 (control), 30, 60 and 90 mM NaCl for 90 days in sand culture. In response to salt stress, the physiological responses were measured. Salinity affected all of the parameters under study. The high salt concentrations caused a great reduction in growth parameters such as fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots. These changes were associated with decrease in chlorophyll contents in leaves. With the increase in salinity level, the proline and sugar contents were increased, and it was concluded that these osmolytes play a key role in generating tolerance against salt stress.